RG 36
by LubaiThe seed’s progress has decreased, really?
Setting aside other notifications, I quickly checked Cha Sahyeon’s status.
User Information: Sahyeon (Antagonist)
Age: 22
Primary Skill: Living Shadow (Class B)
Title: The Master of Shadows
Attack Power: Class B
Attack Speed: Class B
Movement Speed: Class B
Agility: Class B
Special Note▼
ㄴ Seed of Calamity (36% Progress)
The progress, which had been 37%, was now at 36%. It was just a 1% drop, but this event gave hope that effort could reduce the progress, which was significant.
If I continue to take care of Cha Sahyeon and manage the progress like this… we might be able to prevent the world’s destruction.
《Would you like to access the item shop?》
With eager anticipation, I nodded slowly as I looked at the status screen. Cha Sahyeon, nestled in my arms, was completely engrossed in the gifted game console, so it was okay to take a quick look.
Flash!
When the light that had momentarily blinded my vision faded, a much larger and longer status window appeared before my eyes.
[Item Shop]
A special item shop available only to regressors who have cleared the ‘Hidden Quest: Cannot End Like This (Class L)’ quest.
A variety of products to aid in your regressor life are available for purchase.
《Currently sorted by newest items. If this is your first time, it’s better to check the recommended items first.》
The status window displayed product images in a row, just like an online shopping mall. Following the guidance, I changed the sort order to recommended items and began to check the products.
[Regressor Growth Package]
All the essential items for growth collected in one package! From recovery potions to skill experience fruits, you can acquire a variety of items.
Price: 198,000 cash (limited to one purchase)
[Status Window Expansion Ticket]
An expansion ticket that upgrades the functions of the status window. It allows you to see additional hidden stats.
Price: 11,000,000 cash (limited to one purchase)
[Skill Capsule: Divine Power]
A pill that grants a new skill. By taking this pill, you can acquire and use the <Divine Power> skill. The acquired skill starts at Class C.
Price: 50,000,000 cash (limited to one purchase)
In addition to these, various other products were listed. Items like double training points potions or pills that significantly boost both defense and attack were extremely tempting.
‘But the problem is…’
I looked at the bottom right of the item shop. There, a number was clearly displayed.
[Available Cash: 0]
‘Damn…’
Of course. There was no way I had the ‘cash’ needed to buy these items.
It seemed like I had to obtain this ‘cash’ separately since the money I had didn’t count. How am I supposed to get this ‘cash’ without any instructions, just an open item shop?
This is all just a pipe dream. I sighed deeply as I grumbled to myself.
Ding!
An alert sound, familiar to me, beeped and something blinked in the top right corner. It was a gift box icon with an exclamation mark flashing above it.
A notification for the gift box? This had to be significant. Could it be that I got some cash as a welcome gift?
‘Honestly, if they’re opening the item shop, they should at least give me ten million cash as a token.’
Smiling contentedly, I pressed the gift box button. This time, a burst of golden light erupted, accompanied by a triumphant fanfare from somewhere.
Ba-ba-bam!
《You have opened the cash box received as a quest completion reward!》
Jingle!
《Cash Box: System First Use Completion Reward (1,000,000 cash)》
《Cash Box: Hidden Quest “Cannot End Like This (Class L)” Reward (100,000,000 cash)》
《Cash Box: Main Quest “Encounter the antagonist “Seed of Calamity.” Reward (10,000,000 cash)》
《Cash Box: Side Quest “The Faster, the Farther (Class A)” Reward (5,000,000 Cash)》
《Cash Box: Main Quest “Defeat the current Rank 1 Hunter ‘Kwon Taehyeok’ and claim the Rank 1 position” Reward (8,000,000 cash)》
《Cash Box: Main Quest “Successfully Conquer a Grade B or Higher Dungeon with the Villain” Reward (6,000,000 cash)》
《Cash Box: Main Quest “Successfully conquer a dungeon of B-class or higher with the antagonist” Reward (1,000,000 Cash)》
《Cash Box: Hidden Quest: Lowering the Progress of the Seed of Catastrophe (Class L)” Reward (200,000,000 cash)》
“Unbelievable…”
Jingle, jingle, jingle! With the nonstop reward notifications and the sound of coins clinking, my jaw dropped open.
So, there were cash boxes hidden in the rewards for all the quests I had cleared up to now. Just how much did it all add up to?
[Available Cash: 331,000,000]
Three hundred and thirty-one million? Seriously? I hit the jackpot!
Holding my pounding heart, I thought to myself, ‘Can I possibly convert this into real money?’
As soon as I had that thought, a new status window appeared as if to bring me back to reality.
[Cash]
Cash can only be used in the item shop and can be earned through quest completions.
*Note: Cash cannot be converted to real-world currency.
…Of course. It really does seem like game currency when put this way.
‘But with three hundred million, I can buy almost anything, right?’
Looking at the recommended items, the most expensive one was the Skill Capsule. Divine Power, huh?
‘But Divine Power doesn’t seem like an offensive skill at first glance.’
Gaining a new skill would certainly be good, but what I urgently needed right now was an increase in combat power.
Even after transforming into S-class, I was often in a tough spot when clashing with other S-classes, as I had to rely solely on my sword.
It’s a shame. The price is reasonable, so if I could learn a new attack skill, I would have bought it right away.
“Hmm.”
Or perhaps there are other items that can teach me new skills?
With a glimmer of hope, I changed the sorting order from ‘Recommended’ to ‘Highest Price’. The item list reshuffled.
“Whoa…”
[Guardian Crystal]
An item that can temporarily halt the progress of the ‘Seed of Calamity’ within the antagonist. Using the Guardian Crystal ensures that the progress of the ‘Seed of Calamity’ does not increase, regardless of what happens during the active period.
Price: 600,000,000 cash (limited to one purchase)
‘S-six hundred million?’
Thinking I had misread it, I rubbed my eyes, but the price remained unchanged.
While it makes sense that an item with the effect of halting the progress of the Seed of Calamity in Cha Sahyeon would be this expensive, it was frustrating. I had just managed to gather 300 million cash from clearing an L-grade hidden quest, and now I’d need double that to buy this item.
‘Still, it’s a relief that such an item exists.’
For now, with the seed progress at 36%, there’s no immediate need, but if it ever surpasses 50% due to a failure in management, I’ll seriously need to consider purchasing it.
Even though I discovered that it’s possible to reduce the seed’s progress, managing it is by no means easy. Cha Sahyeon is unpredictable and sensitive, making it challenging to care for him.
With this in mind, I decided to browse through the other items.
[Time Stop Potion]
Drinking this potion stops time for 10 seconds. During the stopped time, only the user can move.
Price: 100,000,000 cash (limited to one purchase)
A time stop potion. This could be useful later.
[Charm Enhancement Talisman]
Using this talisman grants a charm buff for a limited period. It makes the user appear more attractive and easier to gain others’ favor.
Price: 80,000,000 cash
What? Just making me look a bit better costs 80 million cash? Definitely not worth buying.
After browsing through the item shop, I pondered while rubbing my chin. With 300 million cash in hand, I felt I should buy something, but the most necessary item, the Guardian Crystal, was too expensive.
‘I’ll save up more for the Guardian Crystal later… For now, it’s better to buy items that I need immediately.’
Although I could try to save up more, the chances of quickly gathering the remaining 300 million were slim, and I was currently too weak. Being greedy and trying to save more cash could lead to quest failures, which would only increase the seed’s progress, causing a significant loss.
‘Hesitation leads to loss. Let’s buy the most immediately useful items from the recommended list.’
Having made up my mind, I proceeded to purchase the items I had earmarked earlier.
Ding!
《Regressor Growth Package Purchase Complete!》
《Status Window Expansion Ticket Purchase Complete!》
《Skill Capsule: Divine Power Purchase Complete!》
Additionally, I bought the Time Stop Potion. It might come in handy at some point.